'Our challenge is to be superior' - Marcelo Bielsa on Leeds United's Premier League adjustment

Newly-promoted Leeds are approaching Wednesday night's hosting of 12th-placed Newcastle United sat 14th in the table and six points clear of the dropzone but having taken just four points from a last possible 18.

Bielsa says his side will continually fight to improve their league position at an elevated level having been superior to the majority of the opposition in his two Championship campaigns with the head coach aware of the consequences of a current "negative cycle of results."

The Whites were eventually promoted as champions at the end of Bielsa's second term in charge having overcome the adversity of losing in the previous season's play-offs semi-finals but United's head coach says the Premier League is a different battle altogether.

"There are different types of adversities," said Bielsa.

"The Premier League is of a certain level and we have to show we can play at that level.

"You can take different moments from the 12 games we’ve played so far and you will find expressions that are very good and some that are not so good.

"In the Championship we had the respect of a large percentage of opponents and a superiority that was already clear.

"What we had to do was impose it.

"Our challenge in every game in the Premier League is to demonstrate that we can compete in equal conditions and in this task that’s where we’re at.

"Throughout these 12 games we’ve been superior to some big rivals and there’s been times where inferior opponents have been superior to us.

"I understand that the job of the media and journalists is to try and predict the future, what’s going to happen, to talk about what’s happened and how this will affect the future but for me it’s very difficult to help out in this way.

"That’s why I say in every game our challenge is to be superior to every opponent that we play so we can impose ourselves."

Leeds began life in the country's top flight by taking 11 points from their first six games with United holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road and United were notably impressive in a 3-0 romp at Aston Villa.

The Villa Park triumph was followed by consecutive 4-1 defeats at home to Leicester City and away at Crystal Palace but United then dominated in a goalless draw at home to Arsenal before impressing in a 1-0 triumph at Everton.

But a 3-1 loss at Chelsea and 2-1 reverse at home to West Ham has left the Whites second-bottom of the division's form table taken over the last six games - though Fulham, West Brom, Everton and Arsenal have also accrued the same amount of points from a last possible 18.

Asked how difficult it would be for Leeds to maintain their Premier League status and if there was any danger of being dragged into a relegation fight, Bielsa said: "It’s very difficult to talk about the future and to predict it.

"The reality that we’re going through at this moment to have only picked up four points from the last 18 is a negative cycle that of course generates consequences.

"This negative cycle that we’re going through is similar to half of the other teams in the Premier League who have gone through a similar cycle.

"We know that every time we play the difficulty is very high and we try to grow so that we can pick up as many points as possible.

"Anyhow for the question that you are asking me, I answer it because I can't repeat my answer again and I try to say something that has some significance or sense but in football any circumstance is possible and every week we will fight to improve our position in the table regardless of where it is."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-fans-could-return-elland-road-end-year-after-update-health-secretary-commons-3067588

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/memories-flooding-back-spotlight-now-firmly-fixed-leeds-uniteds-modern-day-premier-league-campaign-daniel-chapman-3067683

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins